We Will Be Jaguars: A Memoir of My People

by Nemonte Nenquimo

people’s comfort, their very idea of happiness. For us to win, the judges will have to betray their own people, betray the government that pays their salaries, betray the cities where they were born.” Michi was searching for words. “Or . . . it’s an opportunity for them.” “What do you mean?” “To be brave enough to heal.” I shook my head doubtfully, glimpsing my own reflection in the window. “The judges are part of a society that refuses to see you, a system that makes war against your people, against the earth, and ultimately against itself,” Michi said. “By recognizing you, by seeing the humanity in your people, they have the opportunity to stop the violence against you and against themselves. The opportunity to end the hurt, to begin the healing.” I had never thought of it that way. I knew that the white people were afraid of us but I had never thought that their fear and violence hurt them as well. Michi grinned mischievously. “And you thought that the lawsuit was only about saving the forest from oil!” he said. “It’s also about saving the white people from themselves!”